Condensation discharger

ABSTRACT

A device for discharging condensation has a flat thermic actuating member filled with evaporating liquid and having a diaphragm with a centrally located closing device co-operating with the corresponding valve seat. The invention is particularly characterized in that the diaphragm is held tightly between two rigid plate-like wall parts, whereby one of the wall parts along with the diaphragm forms the receiving space for the liquid, while the other wall part supported upon the valve seat sleeve serves as a holder for the actuating member.

United States Patent Hohn et al. I

[54] CONDENSATION DISCHARGER [72] inventors: Gerhard Hohn, Bremen; Josef Llngnlu, Bremen-Borgfeld; Wull Rettemeler, Bremen, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Gestra KSB Verlriebsgesellschnit mhH &

Co., Bremen, Germany [22] Filed: April 6, 1970 [2i] Appl. No.: 25,724

[52] [1.8. CI. ..236/$9 [51] int. Cl ..Fl6t 1/10 [58] Field of Search ..236/56, 58, 93

[56] References Cited UN TED 5115 TENE a 1,739,638 l2/l929 Jockmus [451 July 25, 1972 1,784,153 12/1930 Messmer ..236/58 Primary Examiner-Edward J. Michael Attorney-Richards & Geier [57] ABSTRACT A device for discharging condensation has a flat thermic actuating member filled with evaporating liquid and having a diaphragm with a centrally located closing device co-operating with the corresponding valve seat. The invention is particularly characterized in that the diaphragm is held tightly between two rigid plate-like wail parts, whereby one of the wall parts along with the diaphragm forms the receiving space for the liquid, while the other wall part supported upon the valve seat sleeve serves as a holder for the actuating member.

m gfllaims, Drawing Figures CONDENSATION DISCHARGER This invention pertains to a condensation discharging device with a flat thermic actuating member filled with evaporating liquid, the member having a diaphragm cooperating with the corresponding valve seat.

Existing condensation discharging devices have flat thermic actuating members which are mostly soconstructed that they consist of either one rigid rear wall and a lifting diaphragm, or of two peripherally interconnected diaphragms, whereby their rear side, namely, the side located away from the closing device, is provided with means for attachment to the condensation discharger.

In most cases the actuating members are attached to the cover of the casing of the condensation discharger. Due to the unavoidable comparatively large casing tolerances and the resulting differences in distances between the cover of the easing and the valve seat, it is necessary to provide an adjusting device to adjust the distance between the locking device and the valve seat. This renders the manufacture and assembly of the condensation discharger very complicated and expensive. (see U.S. Pat. No. l,527,l02).

However, it is also known to attach the actuating member to the sleeve of the valve seat, instead of to the discharger casing. This eliminates casing tolerances, so that a special adjusting device can be eliminated to a substantial extent. However, in this construction the actuating member is fixed to a special cap-shaped supporting frame which itself is held in a hoop of the valve seat sleeve. Furthermore, the supporting frame makes it necessary to provide the valve seat sleeve with a hoop exceeding it in diameter for the attachment of the actuating member, so that this construction also requires a high expenditure of material and technical manufacture (see US. Pat. No. l,88l,246).

An object of the present invention is the provision of a condensation discharger with a flat thermic actuating member which will not have the above described drawbacks and which will be characterized by a simple construction, small manufacturing costs, as well as the simplest possible assembly.

Another object is the provision of such a device which will have a longer life, better functional precision and an increase in operational safety in comparison to existing devices.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

ln the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to hold the diaphragm tightly between two rigid plate-like wall parts, whereby one of the wall parts along with the diaphragm forms the receiving space for the evaporating liquid, while the other wall part supported upon the valve seat sleeve serves as a holder for the actuating member. According to a further feature of the present invention these wall parts are constructed as stroke limiting surfaces, which are engaged by a substantial part of the diaphragm surface when the diaphragm reaches its maximum permissible stroke in the closing or opening direction. This was found to be a particularly simple solution which eliminates the drawbacks of known constructions. Not only are the manufacturing costs diminished but life expectancy is also greatly increased.

ln addition, the two wall parts can be provided with an annular clamping location for the diaphragm, extending at a distance from their outer edges, while the soldering of the wall parts with the diaphragm takes place upon the outer edge. This removes the bending portion of the diaphragm out of the soldered section and eliminates the danger of breakage. It was found particularly advantageous to arrange the edge sections of the wall parts so that they extend away from each other from the clamping location to the soldering location, since they can then act resiliently. This improves the clamping of the diaphragm. Furthermore, this provides in a simple manner a precise limit for the fixing.

According to a further feature of the present invention a diaphragm is used which is initially curved in such manner that it is not tensioned in both its dead end positions. This provides a spring-like opening and closing of the discharger. Furthermore, this avoids fatigue of the diaphragm material, since the diaphragm will be subjected to tensions only during very short opening and closing strokes. Thus the life duration of the diaphragm is increased.

In accordance with the present invention a further increase in operational safety is attained in a simple manner in that the inflow space located under the actuating member is enclosed upon the valve side by a tubular sieve which engages with one end the actuating member and with the other end the casing wall carrying the valve seat, whereby the sieve can be fixed to the actuating member in an advantageous manner. This arrangement of the sieve provides a support for the actuating member which freely corbells out of the valve seat sleeve, so that detrimental oscillations are avoided to a great extent. Finally a rational and particularly inexpensive manufacture of the actuating member is provided by making the wall parts, the diaphragm, the stop member as well as the tubular sieve from punched parts.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing by way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a section through a condensation discharging device of the present invention with a flat actuating member.

FIG. 2 is a section through the actuating member on a larger scale.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the attachment of the diaphragm between two wall parts of the actuating member.

The condensation discharging device shown in the drawing has a casing l with a cover 2, a valve seat sleeve 3 and a flat thermic actuating member 4. The actuating member 4 is held by a spring 5 in the casing, whereby the spring 5 can be firmly connected with the member 4 by point soldering. A tubular sieve 6 protects the parts from dirt. The sieve 6 is preferably held tightly between the outer edge portion of the member 4 and the wall 7 of the casing.

However, the sieve 6 can be also firmly connected with the member 4 by soldering or the like.

The valve seat sleeve 3 is mounted in the casing wall 7 which divides the interior of the casing into an inflow chamber and an outflow chamber. The sleeve 3 has a neck portion 8 extending out of the wall 7. The actuating member 4 has a tubular extension 9 which is mounted upon the neck portion 8. The actuating member and the valve seat sleeve are of such size that when they are fixed there is automatically the required distance between the valve seat and the closing member without any additional adjustment. The spring 5 held by the cover 2 supports the actuating member 4 in its proper position in a simple manner.

As shown in FIG. 2, the actuating member 4 has an upper wall part 10 and a lower wall part 11 which carries the tubular extension 9 provided with openings 12 for the outflowing condensation liquid.

A diaphragm 13 is held in tension between the wall parts 10 and ll. The diaphragm 13 along with the wall part 10 forms the receiving chamber 14 for the condensation liquid. The diaphragm 13 has a stop piece 15 extending into the chamber l4, while opposite the stop piece on the other side of the diaphragm a closing member 16 is provided.

In accordance with the present invention the wall parts 10 and 11 are so constructed that they serve as stop surfaces which are engaged by a large part of the diaphragm surface when the diaphragm reaches reaches the end of its maximum permissible opening or closing stroke. This construction provides in a simple manner an effective protection of the diaphragm against over-extension and the resulting possible destruction. Further protection against striking liquid is provided by the stop piece 15 which in case of a maximum open ing stroke is also moved into engagement with the strikereceiving surface 17 of the upper wall part 10.

To effectively prevent any breakage of the diaphragm 13 at its portions between the closing member 16 and the stop piece 15, those surfaces of the parts 15 and 16 which face the diaphragm, have a central part which actually engages the diaphragm and which is enclosed by inclined edge portions 18, 19 the angle of inclination of which corresponds to the angle of inclination of the wall parts 10 and 11 or of the diaphragm curvature. Obviously the edges of these portions 18, 19 are not sharp but are curved so that the diaphragm 13 during its stroke movement can lie against these edges. A buckling of the diaphragm at these locations is thus securely prevented,

FIG. 3 shows more clearly the attachment of the diaphragm I 13 between the wall parts 10 and 11 following the present invention. The wall parts 10 and 11 have clamping portions 20 and 21, respectively, which face the diaphragm and are located at a distance from their edges. The soldering of the parts 10,11,13 takes place directly at the outer edge. This avoids the bending strain of the soldering, since the bending zone of the membrane is then located within the range of the annular clamping members 20,21.

As is clearly apparent from the drawing the structure of the condensation discharger of the present invention, particularly as for the manufacture of the actuating member is concerned, makes possible the use of the economical punching process.

The parts 6,10,11,13 and 15 are particularly suitable for such process.

We claim:

1. A condensation discharging device, comprising a flat thermic actuating member adapted to be filled with a volatile liquid, and comprising a diaphragm, a closure member centrally carried by said diaphragm, a valve seat adapted to be closed by said closure member, and two opposed rigid platelike wall members, said wall members having annular clamping members spaced from their edges for tensioning and holding said diaphragm between the two wall members, the diaphragm being soldered to the two wall members at its outer edges, and a casing having passages for the inflow and outflow of liquid and enclosing said thermic actuating member, one of said wall parts and said diaphragm enclosing a space for receiving said liquid, the other one of said wall parts having a central opening for the passage of said closure member.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the edge portions of said wall parts extending from said clamping members to the soldering extend away from each other.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the diaphragm is preliminarily curved in such manner that it is devoid of tension in two positions of rest. 

1. A condensation discharging device, comprising a flat thermic actuating member adapted to be filled with a volatile liquid, and comprising a diaphragm, a closure member centrally carried by said diaphragm, a valve seat adapted to be closed by said closure member, and two opposed rigid plate-like wall members, said wall members having annular clamping members spaced from their edges for tensioning and holding said diaphragm between the two wall members, the diaphragm being soldered to the two wall members at its outer edges, and a casing having passages for the inflow and outflow of liquid and enclosing said thermic actuating member, one of said wall parts and said diaphragm enclosing a space for receiving said liquid, the other one of said wall parts having a central opening for the passage of said closure member.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the edge portions of said wall parts extending from said clamping members to the soldering extend away from each other.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the diaphragm is preliminarily curved in such manner that it is devoid of tension in two positions of rest. 